Patents by Inventor Kristof Vaesen

Kristof Vaesen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11480655
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to transmitter-receiver leakage suppression in integrated radar systems. One embodiment includes a front-end for a radar system. The front-end includes a transmit path that includes a power amplifier and a transmit antenna. The transmit path is configured to transmit a transmit signal. The front-end also includes a receive path that includes a receive antenna and a low-noise amplifier. The receive path is configured to receive at least a leakage from the transmit path. The receive path is configured to generate an amplified signal of the leakage. Further, the front-end also includes a reference path. In addition, the front-end includes a compensation unit in the reference path. The compensation unit is configured to generate compensation for a leakage path between the transmit path and the receive path. The compensation unit is configured to apply the generated compensation to the reference signal to generate a compensated reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Akshay Visweswaran, Kristof Vaesen
  • Patent number: 11177581
    Abstract: A multi-chip system is configured as an antenna array. The multi-chip system includes at least two transmitting sets distributed over one or more transmitting chips, where the transmitting sets each include an integrated transmitting antenna and an integrated up-conversion circuit. The multi-chip system further includes at least two receiving chips, where the receiving chips each include at least one integrated receiving antenna and at least one integrated down-conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Kristof Vaesen, Siddhartha Sinha, Akshay Visweswaran
  • Patent number: 10778190
    Abstract: A device for phase shifting is disclosed, comprising an input amplifier, a biasing circuit, a first output amplifier and a second output amplifier being variable-gain amplifiers, and a quadrature hybrid coupler. The input amplifier is connected to an input port of the coupler, the first output amplifier is connected to a through port of the coupler, the second output amplifier is connected to a coupled port of the coupler, and the biasing circuit is connected to an isolated port of the coupler. The device also includes, the quadrature hybrid coupler configured to receive, at the input port, an input signal from the input amplifier, output, at the through port, a through signal, receive, at the isolated port, a bias signal from the biasing circuit, and output, at the coupled port, a coupled signal having a phase differing from a phase of the through signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventors: Kristof Vaesen, Pierre Wambacq
  • Publication number: 20200264272
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to transmitter-receiver leakage suppression in integrated radar systems. One embodiment includes a front-end for a radar system. The front-end includes a transmit path that includes a power amplifier and a transmit antenna. The transmit path is configured to transmit a transmit signal. The front-end also includes a receive path that includes a receive antenna and a low-noise amplifier. The receive path is configured to receive at least a leakage from the transmit path. The receive path is configured to generate an amplified signal of the leakage. Further, the front-end also includes a reference path. In addition, the front-end includes a compensation unit in the reference path. The compensation unit is configured to generate compensation for a leakage path between the transmit path and the receive path. The compensation unit is configured to apply the generated compensation to the reference signal to generate a compensated reference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Akshay Visweswaran, Kristof Vaesen
  • Publication number: 20200266550
    Abstract: A multi-chip system is configured as an antenna array. The multi-chip system includes at least two transmitting sets distributed over one or more transmitting chips, where the transmitting sets each include an integrated transmitting antenna and an integrated up-conversion circuit. The multi-chip system further includes at least two receiving chips, where the receiving chips each include at least one integrated receiving antenna and at least one integrated down-conversion circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kristof Vaesen, Siddhartha Sinha, Akshay Visweswaran
  • Publication number: 20180337658
    Abstract: A device for phase shifting is disclosed, comprising an input amplifier, a biasing circuit, a first output amplifier and a second output amplifier being variable-gain amplifiers, and a quadrature hybrid coupler. The input amplifier is connected to an input port of the coupler, the first output amplifier is connected to a through port of the coupler, the second output amplifier is connected to a coupled port of the coupler, and the biasing circuit is connected to an isolated port of the coupler. The device also includes, the quadrature hybrid coupler configured to receive, at the input port, an input signal from the input amplifier, output, at the through port, a through signal, receive, at the isolated port, a bias signal from the biasing circuit, and output, at the coupled port, a coupled signal having a phase differing from a phase of the through signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Kristof Vaesen, Pierre Wambacq
  • Patent number: 9818524
    Abstract: A coupling element is disclosed, comprising four coils that are arranged such that each one of the coils extends both in a first layer and a second layer. The first layer and the second layer are stacked with respect to each other and separated by an intermediate dielectric layer. The layout of each layer is configured to provide a transformer coupling between a first one and a third one of the coils, and between a second one and a fourth one of the coils. Further, the first coil and the second coil, and the third coil and the fourth coil, respectively, are routed so as to allow a differential signaling. A semiconductor device and a differential hybrid coupler comprising the coupling element are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventor: Kristof Vaesen
  • Publication number: 20160379744
    Abstract: A coupling element is disclosed, comprising four coils that are arranged such that each one of the coils extends both in a first layer and a second layer. The first layer and the second layer are stacked with respect to each other and separated by an intermediate dielectric layer. The layout of each layer is configured to provide a transformer coupling between a first one and a third one of the coils, and between a second one and a fourth one of the coils. Further, the first coil and the second coil, and the third coil and the fourth coil, respectively, are routed so as to allow a differential signaling. A semiconductor device and a differential hybrid coupler comprising the coupling element are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: IMEC VZW
    Inventor: Kristof Vaesen
  • Patent number: 8971831
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a front-end system for a radio device, the front-end system comprising a low-noise amplifier (LNA), arranged for receiving a radio frequency input signal (RFIN) and arranged for outputting an amplified radio frequency signal (RFOUT), wherein the low-noise amplifier comprises a first differential amplifier, and a mixer (MIX), arranged for down-converting the amplified radio signal (RFOUT) provided by the low-noise amplifier (LNA) to a baseband signal (BB), by multiplying the amplified radio signal (RFOUT) with a local oscillator (LO) frequency tone, said low-noise amplifier (LNA) and said mixer (MIX) being inductively coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Vojkan Vidojkovic, Kristof Vaesen, Piet Wambacq
  • Publication number: 20140235187
    Abstract: Front-end systems for a transmitter included in a radio device are disclosed. An example front-end system may comprise a voltage-to-power mixer. The voltage-to-power mixer may be configured to up-convert a baseband signal to a high-frequency signal by multiplying the baseband signal with a local oscillator signal. Additionally, the voltage-to-power mixer may include a voltage feedback circuit. The example front-end system may further comprise a two-stage power amplifier. The two-stage power amplifier may be configured to amplify the high-frequency signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicants: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Vojkan Vidojkovic, Khaled Khalaf, Viki Szortyka, Kristof Vaesen, Piet Wambacq